Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988

Options etc.

38 (1) For the purposes of section 187(3)(a) a right to acquire shares (however arising) shall be taken to be a right to control them.

(2) Any reference in sub-paragraph (3) below to the shares attributed to an individual is a reference to the shares which, in accordance with section 187(3)(a), fall to be brought into account in his case to determine whether their number exceeds a particular percentage of the company’s ordinary share capital.

(3) In any case where—

(a) the shares attributed to an individual consist of or include shares which he or any other person has a right to acquire; and

(b) the circumstances are such that, if that right were to be exercised, the shares acquired would be shares which were previously unissued and which the company is contractually bound to issue in the event of the exercise of the right;

then, in determining at any time prior to the exercise of that right whether the number of shares attributed to the individual exceeds a particular percentage of the ordinary share capital of the company, that ordinary share capital shall be taken to be increased by the number of unissued shares referred to in paragraph (b) above.

(4) This paragraph has effect as respects any time after 5th April 1987.